A review of recent advances in solvent-based technologies for postcombustion CO ₂ capture

Abstract As a result of recent advances, solvent-based postcombustion CO 2 capture (PCC) systems have shown markedly improved absorption capacity, regeneration efficiency, and solvent stability compared with conventional monoethanolamine systems. This review provides a comparative assessment of seven major solvent classes, namely, amine blends and promoters, amino acid-based solvents, phase-change solvents, water-lean and nonaqueous systems, ionic liquids (ILs), deep eutectic solvents (DESs), and nanofluids. Among these solvent classes, amine blends remain the most practical short-term solution, achieving 33–60 % reductions in regeneration energy with proven scalability. Phase-change and biphasic solvents deliver the lowest regeneration energies (0.74–1.3 GJ t −1 CO 2 ) among solvent classes, whereas water-lean systems balance energy savings with corrosion resistance and reduced water use. DESs and ILs offer long-term potential through molecular tunability and environmental compatibility. However, their viscosity and recyclability remain key challenges. Nanofluids expand the research frontier by coupling chemical reactivity with enhanced mass transfer. Progress in solvent-based PCC depends on integrating molecular design, process optimization, and pilot-scale validation to achieve low-energy, stable, and scalable CO 2 capture technologies.